Open Kitchen, flavours from all over Slovenia in one place

The Open Kitchen project started in mid-May in the centre of the Slovenian capital, in the Ljubljana market. In this way, Slovenia gained the first and totally unique outdoor culinary market and restaurant that will, each Friday until October, present the fresh, innovative and dynamic common culinary specialties of various caterers. The latter shall offer the best and freshly prepared culinary specialties from Slovenia, while dishes by foreign caterers will also be available.

The visitors of the Open Kitchen will be able to taste diverse flavours and dishes, while more than 50 chefs and restaurants will participate in the project.

`Open Kitchen is a unique market of prepared treats that provides an opportunity to caterers, restaurants, tourist farms and independent chefs to present their unique dishes and promote their food destinations,` the organisers wrote.

Each Friday until October, Pogačar`s square will host different culinary providers from all around Slovenia, who will bring specialties and dishes from their region; moreover, some will also cook outdoors. `Visitors will be able to taste the most diverse food available in one place in Slovenia,` said Lior Kochavy, the creative director of the Open Kitchen. The visitors will be able to eat their meal on the spot or take it home.

Open Kitchen is the first such project in Slovenia. The culinary market will be open each Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM, depending on the weather.

Despite the fickle weather, the first of the organiser`s expectations were fulfilled. Namely, more than ten excellent caterers, including the restaurants Pri Lojzetu from the Zemono mansion, Gostilna pri Danilu from Reteče, Hiša Raduha from Luče, Rajh from Prekmurje and the majority of other members of the JRE association (Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe is a prestigious culinary association of caterers that strives to promote tradition, creativity and innovation in the kitchen; it incorporates around 350 restaurants from 12 European countries, including 13 Slovenian ones), gathered under the white-green roofs of the Ljubljana market, which is already one of the most popular Ljubljana sights. Typical Slovenian flavours were, for example, represented by Gostilna Krištof with the Arvaj Krainer sausage; however, there was also seasonal food, such as asparagus and bear garlic, as well as more exotic dishes, such as Chinese, Thai, Turkish and Egyptian food.

More about the Open Kitchen Food Market on the official web site (but it is presently only in the Slovene language).